From Humble Beginnings to Global Icon: The Toyota Corolla Story

With twelve generations under its belt, the Corolla is an icon for both Toyota and affordable transportation

Compact cars have always had a way of quickly getting popular. Post WWII, the Beetle was one such nameplate, immediately catching on in Germany before customers worldwide saw the appeal of something small and affordable. Around 30 years after the Beetle was introduced came the Toyota Corolla. Since 1966, more than 50 million of these little economy cars have found their way into customer driveways. The Corolla — whose name comes from Latin for “small crown” — is more than aptly named. Here’s a look at how the king of economy cars has evolved.

View the 3 images of this gallery on the original article

First-generation Toyota Corolla (1966)

The Toyota Corolla debuted late in 1966, competing with the Datsun 1000 and Subaru 1000. The car pioneered floor-mounted shifters, unpopular in Japan at the time, and even offered a four-speed transmission. Toyota began exporting the Corolla to the US in 1968, priced at $1,700 (around $15,500 in today’s money). The car’s balance and style made it a hit in Japan, where private vehicle ownership was on fire. In the US, a combination of efficiency, uniqueness, and affordability made it a common sight on the roads.

Second-generation Toyota Corolla (1970)

The second generation of the Toyota Corolla didn’t deviate too far from the original’s successful recipe, but some significant changes were still implemented. Particularly important was the introduction of a more powerful 1.8-liter engine that made 88 horsepower in the SR-5 variant. Toyota added a sway bar to the front suspension, and the car’s footprint was a bit larger than its predecessor. A coupe model also debuted, sharing a body with the newly spun-out Sprinter model line. Interestingly, production only fully ended in 1978, by which time the third iteration of the Corolla had already been on the market for many years.

View the 3 images of this gallery on the original article

Third-generation Toyota Corolla (1974)

The third generation of the Toyota Corolla grew to even larger dimensions, offering a wheelbase that was 35 mm larger and 40 mm wider in the front and rear. The size increase was apparently to accommodate tightening safety restrictions in the US, like front and rear bumpers, protective side molding, and seatbelts. Toyota also added sporty fastback and more practical liftback models. By now, gas prices were rising substantially, making the Corolla even more appealing than it already was. The third-generation Corolla saw the nameplate’s crowning achievement thus far: becoming the most-produced car yet.

View the 3 images of this gallery on the original article

Fourth-generation Toyota Corolla (1979)

Perhaps predictably, the Corolla grew in size again for its fourth incarnation. So, too, did the number of variants available: in total, the Corolla could be ordered in a whopping seven different styles. The Corolla was starting to get some serious competition, particularly from VW’s Rabbit. Toyota’s compact car also received major suspension upgrades, likely in response to critics who felt the third-generation’s rear suspension wasn’t up to snuff when compared to the Beetle. The Corolla said goodbye to rear leaf springs and got a four-link coil suspension, front disc brakes, and additional bracing.

View the 2 images of this gallery on the original article

Fifth-generation Toyota Corolla (1983)

The fifth generation of the Toyota Corolla brought big changes. The formerly rear-driven car was now a front-wheel drive variant, arguably making it the true genesis of the Corolla we know today. Coupe models, the now-famous AE85 and AE86, remained rear-wheel drive and are popular today for their dynamic handling and iconic styling. The fifth-generation car also did away with some of the classic Corolla cues, ditching the fender mirrors for door mirrors and fully integrating squared-off headlights and bumpers. The Corolla also got a new suspension that made it a better handler than before.

View the 3 images of this gallery on the original article

Sixth-generation Toyota Corolla (1987)

Having recently switched over to a front-wheel drive architecture, it’s a bit surprising to know that just one generation later, Toyota again pivoted the Corolla towards all-wheel drive. While front-driven models were still the mainstay, an All-Trac all-wheel drive system saw the Corolla dip its feet into rallying. Globally, Toyota began to pare down offerings, discontinuing the liftback five-door model. The sixth-generation Corolla broke sales records in Japan that would not be broken again until the Prius in 2010.

Seventh-generation Toyota Corolla (1991)

Wagon, hatch, and sedan models were available for the seventh-generation Corolla, and for once, all body styles were refreshed at around the same time. The seventh-generation car grew yet again over its predecessors, and five different four-cylinder engines were available. The Corolla was heavier, too, featuring a body shell made of 90 percent galvanized steel compared to the last generation’s 60 percent. Dr. Akihiko Saito, chief developer, has been quoted as saying he wanted the seventh-generation Corolla to be a “mini-Lexus.” We’re not sure he succeeded there, but the Corolla continued to sell well.

View the 2 images of this gallery on the original article

Eighth-generation Toyota Corolla (1995)

The mid-1990s saw a new type of Corolla. The eighth installment didn’t grow substantially over its predecessor, and in fact used many of the same parts. Curb weight even decreased by a not insubstantial 50 kg (110 pounds). Today, Toyota says that the car was “developed with a focus on the environment, safety, and total cost of ownership,” which feels kind of right when you consider how long these little things lived. All the perks we just mentioned come largely courtesy of the lighter, all-aluminum 1ZZ-FE engine under the hood. Notably, the 1ZZ later found its way into the Lotus Elise and Toyota MR2.

View the 2 images of this gallery on the original article

Ninth-generation Toyota Corolla (2000)

Though the last generation Corolla shed some weight and stayed around the same size, the ninth generation represented a return to form. Its wheelbase grew by 135 mm (5.3 inches) and was wider, longer, and taller than the model it replaced. More familiar, then, was the 1ZZ engine under the hood. The ninth-generation Corolla saw the introduction of safety features and technology like traction control and vehicle stability control (VSC). Models destined for the US shores were, in fact, larger than the standard Corolla that Toyota sold in Japan. Instead, they were based on the Corolla Altis, a car for the Southeast Asian market.

Tenth-generation Toyota Corolla (2006)

Like its predecessor, the tenth-generation Corolla was quite a bit different depending on whether or not you were in the Japanese market. JDM cars received different styling and branding, while a larger model went on sale internationally. Despite some weight gain, the 10th-generation Corolla changes fairly little from its predecessor, but at least an available 2.4-liter engine gave the car a bit more pep. Dubbed the XRS trim, it even offered a manual transmission, making it perhaps the most engaging Corolla since the nameplate largely abandoned its performance pretensions after the sixth generation.

View the 3 images of this gallery on the original article

Eleventh-generation Toyota Corolla (2012)

The 11th generation of the Toyota Corolla saw many styling changes and, perhaps more importantly, tons of new tech and safety equipment. Adaptive cruise control and Toyota Safety Sense appeared, and Toyota replaced the automatic transmission with a more economical continuously variable transmission, or CVT. You may also know the 11th-generation Corolla by another name: the Scion iM. When the Scion nameplate went defunct in 2017, Toyota dubbed the model the Corolla iM and continued selling it anyway.

View the 2 images of this gallery on the original article

Twelfth-generation Toyota Corolla (2018)

The Corolla you know and love today is the most advanced yet, featuring an almost dizzying array of standard driver aids. More aggressive styling went hand-in-hand with the introduction of a spunky GR Corolla Hatchback model. Toyota plopped a 300-horsepower turbocharged three-cylinder under the hood, paired it with either a dual-clutch auto or six-speed manual, and even added all-wheel drive. While sadly, the GR Corolla is still a front-wheel-drive bias car, it can direct up to 70 percent of the engine’s power to the rear wheels when necessary. With Corolla Hybrid models now for sale internationally, the Corolla’s versatility has never been more pronounced.

View the 4 images of this gallery on the original article

Final thoughts

The 13th generation of the Toyota Corolla is just around the corner. After seeing the model everywhere it has already been, it’s exciting to see what Toyota will do with the nameplate next. With the debut of a new Corolla Cross SUV just a couple of years ago, it seems nothing is ever off-limits for the intrepid Corolla.